INSTRUCTIONS EOR COLLECTING 

 REPTILES, BATRACHIANS, AND EISHES. 



I.— EEPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. 



Reptiles sLoiild be ^Dreserved in spirit whenever practicable. 



Spirit. — The collector slioiild provide himself with the best and 

 strongest alcohol procurable. This can be afterwards diluted with 

 water or with weaker spirit, until it is reduced to the degree of 

 strength required in each case. As the collector would often have 

 difficulty in obtaining spirit while travelling, he is advised to take 

 a sufficient supply with him. Methylated spirit may be recom- 

 mended on account of its greater cheapness ; but specimens do not 

 keep nearly so well in this liquid, and it should not be used for 

 the preservation of particularly valuable specimens, or such as are 

 intended to be used afterwards for anatomical investisfation. In 

 default of spirit the collector may use ai-rack, brandy, rum, or any 

 other spirituous liquid which he can procure, provided it possesses 

 the requisite strength. Any spirit which takes fire immediately on 

 the application of a light, without having been previously warmed, 

 is strong enough to be used for the preservation of animals. 



The following is a simple method of diluting alcohol to any desired 

 per cent. : — 



Of alcohol of known per cent, take the number of cubic centimetres 

 represented by the figures in the required per cent., add enough water 

 to bfing the whole up to the number of cubic centimetres represented 

 by the figures in the known per cent. The mixture will be of the 

 required per cent. To illustrate : 



To make 50 % alcohol from 95 % alcohol, add to 50 c.c. of 95 % 



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